Two army officers, including BGB Lt Col Redwanul Islam, were produced before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Monday in a case over crimes against humanity for the killing of 28 people in Rampura during the July–August Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
Four individuals have been accused in the case.
They were brought from the special prison in Dhaka Cantonment in an air-conditioned green prison van marked “Bangladesh Jail–Prison Van” under tight security.
A three-member judicial panel led by ICT-1 Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mazumder is scheduled to hear the matter on Monday.
The tribunal may also fix a date for framing charges and appointing state defence counsel for the two absconding accused.
Alongside Redwanul, the other accused produced is former BGB major Md Rafat Bin Alam. The absconding accused are former ADC of DMP Khilgaon zone Md Rashedul Islam and former officer-in-charge of Rampura police station Md Mashiur Rahman.
Redwanul and Rafat were brought to the tribunal on October 22 from military custody. After the hearing, ICT-1 ordered their confinement in jail, showing them arrested in the case, and directed that notices be published in newspapers asking the fugitives to appear. The notices have since been published.
The tribunal had earlier fixed November 5 for the hearing, but rescheduled it for Monday following a prosecution petition.
The order was issued on October 26 by a two-member panel led by Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud, with retired district judge Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury as the other member.
Security has been tightened around the tribunal for Monday’s proceedings, with law enforcement positioned at the main gate and High Court entrance. RAB and BGB personnel have been deployed alongside additional police, while army members are patrolling the wider Supreme Court area.
During the July–August student-public uprising, widespread killings took place across the country, including 28 deaths in Rampura. BGB officer Redwanul was seen firing at protesters, while others allegedly led the attacks. Following the investigation agency’s report, formal charges were filed against the four accused in the tribunal.
